A) Introduction (updated Nov 2015)

This site is aimed to help teachers to work human rights in their TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) classes.

Basic purpose of the site:

The purpose of this site is to help English teachers teach young people about human rights, specifically the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, inspire them to become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace and empower them to uphold their own and other people’s rights.

Website design:

This site is designed to be used freely according to students’ regular class schedule.It starts with an introduction to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and includes the following subpages:

1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights for youth
3. Introduction to Human Rights in 30 words
4. Glossary of terms
5. Activities sent by readers

Each subpage includes proposals for work in class along with the relevant originaldocuments.

Following the introduction there are six folders. Each one contains a few activities and proposals for working with the five articles of the Declaration. Each folder includes individual subpages for each article along with activities to do in class.

Finally, there is a section on Protection of Children’s Rights that teachers can use to bring real material into their class, including addresses to contact in case of problems that may involve human rights violations.

As you use this site, you will find some features common to each section, such asdefinitions of words and concepts to help students gain a fuller understanding of what they are reading and activities in which students act out situations, demonstrating the concepts they learn. It is important that students actively participate so that the concepts become real to them and the learning process is fun.

There are also recommended films for each article of the Declaration that can be used to work with the subject of human rights in an entertaining and interesting way.

Suggested classroom arrangement:

It is recommended that the class be held arranged in a semi-circle so that all of the
students can see each other and interact. The teacher can move around to talk to
students, and the centre of the circle can be used as a stage. However, the typicaleveryday classroom arrangement will also work.

Some examples of activities are given. You can use these or create your own to better suit your situation. This course is open to everybody, so if you create your own activities, please send them to me (jregojo@gmail.com) to enrich the course.

Do you know what Human Rights are?

Every person is entitled to certain rights –simply because of the fact that they are
human beings. These are "rights" because they determine what you are allowed to be, to do or to have. These rights exist for your protection against people who might want to harm or hurt you. They also exist to help us get along with each other and live in peace.

Many people know something about their rights. They know they have a right to be paid for the work they do and they have a right to vote. But we are all entitled to many other rights.

When people are not aware of their human rights, abuses can occur, such as
discrimination, intolerance, injustice, oppression and slavery.
Born out of the atrocities and enormous loss of life during World War II, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the United Nations to provide a
common understanding of what everyone’s rights are. It establishes the basis for a
world built on freedom, justice and peace.

If you find any link that is not working or you have any ideas that will improve this site, please be in contact and share them.
Use and improve it as much as possible .... and remember always to share.
Thanks!http://joseluisregojo.blogspot.com/Share here: jregojo@gmail.com Comment: @jlregojo

The fourteen pieces in the program are engaging but also thought provoking. Some scenes are easy to assimilate, others are more layered, however each of them is a silent voice that joins many solidary voices in continuing to denounce the violation of human rights around the world.
The students could be assigned to write the copy or act out the same sketches adding dialog to the silence...